City 1st XV Take the Honours in the Greenleys Mud Bath!

A very muddy day to say the least, but both teams coped well with the conditions and both must take credit for playing a running game and gave the large crowd an exciting game to watch.

A collision of two Milton Keynes players in the first minute held the game up and following this Andy Champ was substituted as a precaution from the head clash, Milton Keynes were a bit at sixes and sevens, whilst trying to reorganise the side, and unfortunately gave away a penalty to Grove and they took the lead for the only time in the game.
Milton Keynes managed to rally and went up field to attack the Grove line and were just short of scoring in the corner, Milton Keynes now hunting for points, secured the ball from the 22 metre drop out and took the play back to Grove, Milton Keynes scored from this onslaught and prop Kieran McConnell, crossed the line with a dummy pass that any centre would have been proud of, the conversion missed but the home side took a slender lead 5 - 3.

Milton Keynes continued to dominate and it was prop Kieran McConnell to score his second try 10 minutes to the break, Phil Powell kicked a splendid conversion, and at last day light in the score line at 12 - 3 to the home side. Unfortunately just after scoring Kieran McConnell had to leave the field with a suspect neck problem.

Second half and Milton Keynes managed to find a clean set of shirts, but within 10 minutes they were just as muddy as before. Grove worked hard to get back into the game, their pack pushed Milton Keynes backwards and crossed the try line, they were very disappointed when the ref deemed the ball held up and Milton Keynes were let off the hook.
The play fairly even between both sides but at the mid way point Milton Keynes managed to pull away with a wingers try in the corner, Simon Kocklebergh weaved his way through the defenders and scored in the corner, the difficult 2 points attempt from Phil Powell failed.

The score pushed on to 17 — 3 and the home side thought they had done enough to secure the game, but Grove refused to lie down and with 8 minutes to bath time, came back into the game with a three-quarter move in the awful conditions and a confident conversion bought Grove back to within 1 score to draw.

Milton Keynes were suddenly aware of the situation and forced the last 8 minutes attacking Grove`s defence. A penalty awarded on the 22 metre line was taken as a quick tap penalty, the ball passed down the line and Milton Keynes winger, ready to cross the line, the ref pulled the play back to the penalty position, and gave Milton Keynes 10 metres further forward for Grove arguing, Milton Keynes denied their chance of the 4th try, and bonus point, but up stepped Phil Powell to put the game 2 scores away from their visitors. The game ran to its conclusion with Milton Keynes winning 20 - 10, a great result for the City boys in difficult conditions.

Milton Keynes man of the match Stu Tomkinson, who made some great charging runs through the game, felt it only right to share his 'bottle of port' award with his team mates in the clubhouse, what a fella!

John Silk
MKRUFC President